Honduras—Asegurando la Educación (Securing Education)

While the education sector in Honduras faces many complex challenges, one of the most insidious obstacles to students’ success is violence in and around schools. School-based violence (SBV) not only hinders the academic achievement of youth while they are students, but can lead to life-long negative behavior patterns that impact Honduran society. SBV prevention has emerged as a critical strategy for breaking this cycle by enabling at-risk youth to stay in school, leading to better academic outcomes, which are linked to improved levels of health and nutrition, reduced crime, and stronger local economies.

The Asegurando la Educación (Securing Education) program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), capitalizes on the opportunity that schools provide to establish a culture of non-violence, inclusion, and respect among youth. The project partners with education systems and communities in target municipalities to make schools safer places for students and teachers, while also empowering schools to play a larger role in decreasing community violence.

To address the complex nature of violence in and around schools, Asegurando la Educación works across multiple levels: improving schools’ ability to prevent violence; strengthening local networks that increase school safety; and building the capacity of the Ministry of Education and social service agencies to respond to school-based violence. By taking a comprehensive, adaptive approach that involves teachers, students, administrators, community members, and policymakers, the program works to enhance education and job opportunities for youth, while increasing peace and security in communities.

The Regional Advisory Service provides expert advice on strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, audit and risk management, and governance to five regional organisations in the Pacific, in addition to supporting Australia’s Pacific regional aid program.